News In Brief

March 14, 1984

United Nations, N.Y.
— UN team in Iran to check poison-gas allegations

An international team of chemical-warfare experts arrived in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday to begin investigating Iranian charges that Iraq has used mustard gas and toxic ''yellow rain'' in the 42-month-old Persian Gulf war.

The specialists will spend about five days in Iran and then fly to Geneva to prepare a report for UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, according to Diego Cordovez, the UN undersecretary-general for special political affairs.

In Iran, the national news agency IRNA said the six-member team would see Iranian victims of chemical attacks and visit areas where Iran says chemical weapons have been used.

IRNA also said there were strong indications Iraq would soon attack Iranian cities with chemical weapons after using what Tehran called ''chemical bombs'' on Iranian forces Monday. IRNA said ''it appears that the time is very close'' for such an attack against civilians.